Opposition to John Adams for the Vice President; Anti-Administration leaders substitute Aaron Burr for the ticket and then decide on George Clinton.

Campaign Innovations (Nomination/Primaries):

Major Personalities (Nomination/Primaries):

Philip Freneau of the National Gazette (Republican); John Fenno of the Gazette of the United States (Federalist); James Madison; John Jay; Thomas Jefferson; Alexander Hamilton

Turning Points (Nomination/Primaries):

“Spirit of party”: The rift between Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton, and the rise of parties, made George Washington anxious to retire after one term – and Washington’s supporters especially anxious to keep him in office. Eventually, both Federalists and Democratic-Republicans supported Washington.

October 16, 1792: Anti-administration leaders met in Philadelphia with delegates from NY, PA, VA, and SC., they supported both Washington and Clinton for the ticket.

Republicans in New York tried to get Governor George Clinton on the ticket, rather than Aaron Burr; they proposed this to the anti-administration leaders in Virginia, who did not want Burr on the ticket or Clinton that much, but they wanted New York’s 12 Electoral votes and agreed to Clinton.

General Election Controversies/Issues:

The emergence of a two-party system and “electioneering.”

Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton was an economic nationalist who was the favorite of commercial interests. His supporters were the Federalists. The Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson championed the agrarian way of life and condemned Hamilton’s blueprints for a strong central government. Jefferson’s supporters were the Democratic-Republicans.

Democratic-Republicans: Unable to criticize Washington; the party criticized Vice-President Adams for aligning with the Federalists by voting for Alexander Hamilton’s legislation in the Senate.

Turning Points (General Election):

Washington was elected unanimously.

Popular Campaign Slogans: Federalists: “Long Live the President”

Defining Quotation (Winning Candidate):

“How unfortunate and how much it is to be regretted . . . that internal dissensions should be harrowing and tearing our vitals.” George Washington

Important Quotation:

“At an election in a certain State a bystander observing the particular situation of a great number of the electors, who had been regaled at the expense of one of the candidates, remarked on the occasion, That the Voice of the People, was the Voice of Grog.” The Gazette of the United States, November 1792

“I cannot but hope that you can resolve to add one or two more years to the many years you have already sacrificed to the good of mankind.” Thomas Jefferson begging George Washington not to retire.

The opposition “has been as busy as the Devil in a gale of wind.” Theodore Sedgwick, a Federalist

“Our elections are unanimous for the old King and his second.” David Cobb, a Federalist

Further Reading: Stanley M. Elkins and Eric McKitrick, The Age of Federalism: The Early American Republic, 1788–1800. New York: Oxford University Press, 1993, 1995.

Lasting Legacy of Campaign:

Only Presidential election not held exactly four years from the previous election.

George Washington received one vote from each elector who cast a ballot and was the unanimous choice for President.

CHRONOLOGY

April 30, 1789: George Washington inaugurated the first President of the United States in the capital then Federal Hall in New York.

July 4, 1789: Representative James Madison of Virginia leads Congress to enact the country’s first protective tariff with Washington’s agreement.

July 16, 1790: Washington signs the bill establishing the country’s capital along the Potomac River in the newly created District of Columbia.

June 20, 1790: Congress passes the Assumption Act; the federal government takes over responsibility for each state’s Revolutionary War debts.

August 4, 1790: Washington signs Assumption Act into law.

December 6, 1790: The US capital moves temporary from New York City to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania until construction of the permanent capital in the District of Columbia is complete in 1800.

December 13, 1790: Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton sends The Report on a National Bank to Congress requesting they pass legislation creating an official Bank of the United States. The bank creates partisan divisions between emerging Federalists in support and anti-Federalists in opposition to increasing federal power; Congress passes the Bank Bill of 1791.

February 25, 1791: Washington signs Bank of the United States in the law, was reluctant.

September 9, 1791: Commissioners decide to call the new capital’s city in the District of Columbia, Washington.

December 12, 1791: The Bank of the United States opens in Philadelphia.

December 15, 1791: The states ratify the Bill of Rights, the first ten amendments to the Constitution guaranteeing freedoms.

February 21, 1792: Congress passes Presidential Succession Act of 1792, President, Vice President, President pro tempore of the U.S. Senate, and then Speaker of the U.S. House.

March 1792: Law of March 1792 goes into law; it defines voting procedures and mandates the electoral vote on first Wednesday in December.

October 13, 1792: The first stone, cornerstone laid in building of President’s mansion in Washington, D.C.

October 16, 1792: Anti-administration leaders meet in Philadelphia with delegates from New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and South Carolina; they support both Washington and Clinton for the ticket.

October 16, 1792: Republicans in New York tried to get Governor George Clinton on the ticket, rather than Aaron Burr; they propose this to the anti-administration leaders in Virginia, who did not want Burr on the ticket or Clinton that much but they wanted New York’s 12 Electoral votes, and agree to Clinton.

Early November 1792: Six states with the popular election of the Presidential Electors vote.

December 5, 1792: Presidential Electors cast their votes in their state capitals.

Election 2016

About the Editor

Bonnie K. Goodman, BA, MLIS is a journalist, librarian, editor, & historian. She has a BA in History & Art History, and a Masters in Library and Information Studies both from McGill University, and has done graduate work in Jewish history at Concordia University as part of the MA in Judaic Studies. She wrote regularly about politics, news, education, and Judaism for Examiner.com until the publication closed in July 2016. She is the editor of History Musings... History, News & Politics, which covers the Presidency, Congress, and history news. She has previously covered the 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016 Presidential campaigns & 2010 and 2014 midterm elections. She was also the former Editor/Features Editor for the History News Network (HNN), and had been working for HNN from 2004-2010.... READ MORE

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